Shoes are part of our “armor” that protects from harm and injury in the outside world They are also part of our “uniform’ to communicate status, and wealth as well as an “artifact” that communicated our style and personality. When we take our shoes off we feel safe physically and psychologically and can shed our need to communicate are artifices like status and style. For years as a body language expert, I have noticed how most people become more comfortable and relaxed when they take off their shoes in a house and interact. The shedding seems to help us become kids again, unpretentious and more vulnerable and playful. Now shoe bottoms have been proven to carry germs, bacteria, and other pathogens so taking them off as we enter our home actually has a new meaning. I first noticed a shoe shelf at the door of my Physician niece's family house years ago and it made me realize how serious And that is my home and or your home is sacred and I want to help you keep it safe so I shed the dangers I am carrying on my shoes when I enter your home. So now the act of taking off shoes by friends and home service personnel like plumbers and such seems an act of consideration and honoring of your home. I encourage shedding shoes at my house by having a special pretty carpet and standing by the door where they see two pairs of shoes already there and place for theirs I don’t even have to say anything the “shoe station” communicated the ritual for me.
Do Face Coverings, Masks Help or Hinder Defendants in Jury Trials, Body Language of Elizabeth Holmes
Elizabeth Holmes' lawyers stated before trial that Holmes had a "strong preference" to go unmasked in the courtroom, but she did not challenge the judge's decisions regarding mask-wearing. Photo by Nick Otto/AFP via Getty Images.
Before her fall from grace, Elizabeth Holmes’ ability to court and charm establishment luminaries fueled her meteoric rise as head of Silicon Valley blood-testing company Theranos. In her ongoing criminal fraud trial, she might be hoping she can work the same magic on jurors.
But could wearing a mask weaken her defense and make her less likable in the eyes of the jury?
That question appeared top of mind for her defense team in the run-up to her federal criminal trial, which began in August in San Jose, California. Her lawyers told Judge Edward Davila that she had a “strong preference” to go unmasked. But with COVID-19 cases trending upward because of the delta variant, the judge said he would allow only testifying witnesses to go without masks. Attorneys do not have to wear them while examining witnesses.
Judges across the country are balancing public health with the right to a fair trial. In some cases, they have left it to defendants to decide if they want to wear a mask in front of jurors. And while Holmes’ case is a high-profile example, the subject of mask-wearing and whether it helps or hinders defendants is broader concern for both civil and criminal defense lawyers. They know that the nuances of facial expressions and body language are as much a part of courtroom dramas as explosive witness testimony or damning smoking-gun evidence.
Link to the rest of the article. https://www.abajournal.com/web/article/do-face-coverings-help-or-hinder-defendants
Elizabeth Holmes Body Language, The CEO of Theranos, The Inventor: Out For Blood in Silicon Valley By Body Language Expert Patti Wood
What does the body language of Elizabeth Holmes, the founder, and CEO of
Theranos tell us? In June 2018 she was accused of fraud by the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC). (Holmes and Theranos' former COO, Sunny Balwani, who was also
charged, have pled not guilty to the charges.) After the publication of
journalist John Carreyrou's Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup,
and ABC's podcast The Dropout, HBO has now thrown its hat
into the ring with its documentary The Inventor: Out For Blood In Silicon Valley.
The documentary is the first to compile footage of Holmes in the context of the accusations that the company's machines did not work. And this new flood of footage has people wondering what Elizabeth Holmes' body language says about her — especially that whole not-blinking thing. Patti Wood, an expert in deception detection and author of the book SNAP — Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language, and Charisma, tells Bustle that "laser focus" allows people to charm those around them.
"It's a charismatic
body language behavior. When you're in their presence, you feel like you're the
only person in the entire world, that you're the center of their focus and
attention," she explains. "It's a superpower, really, and it affects
your ability to think logically and go to your [brain's] neocortex and analyze
what's going on because it feels so good."
Holmes founded the healthcare company that eventually became known as Theranos in 2003 at age 19, after dropping out of Stanford. The company claimed to be developing technology that could analyze a fingerprick's worth of blood to detect myriad health problems. Before Theranos was accused of fraud, Holmes was lauded as the next Steve Jobs and became the youngest self-made female billionaire in the world. However, the technology was eventually shown not to be functional and the company was defunct by 2018, according to a Theranos timeline of events reported by Business Insider.
As people try to unravel the mystery of how Holmes was able to court investors to fund the development of a product that allegedly did not work, many have made mention of Holme's ability to focus on people without blinking.
Wood says this prolonged
eye contact is part of the laser focus tactic. She explains that the four
factors of a first impression are credibility, likability, attractiveness, and
power. When you're dealing with someone who is highly charismatic, the last
three factors override your need to find the person credible, she says.
While anyone can fall
prey to a charismatic person who is not well-intentioned, there are some red
flags to be aware of. "Watch out for 'robots,'" Henderson advises.
"If the person you are with looks a bit stiff and robotic, [it means] they
are gesturing without any connection to their spine in an attempt to suppress their
real behavior. Essentially, they are putting on a show for you which is not
genuine and could be a scam."
Additionally, Wood says
that your body may alert you that the person you're dealing
with is being less than truthful. You might feel unsettled, uncomfortable, or
experience a rapid heart rate. Sometimes this can be mistaken for
excitement.
Patti's additional
notes
Signs of a Dangerous Person
Trust your gut.
Your central nervous system alerts you to danger. Your limbic brain alerts
you through sight, sound, touch, smell, and kinesthetic cues. Your
body may tense or freeze. You may feel heavy, oddly fatigued, or pumped up,
nauseous, or headache or just have an odd feeling that something is off.
If you think you may be scammed, it is your limbic brain reading their behavior
at a subconscious level. And alerting you with that 'Ask questions, see if you
are right, or simply end the interaction.
Clayton And Susie's Body Language At “After The Final Rose” The Bachelor, Secrets and Insights into The Bachelor Body Language
Of course, some awkwardness is to be expected. The last time audiences saw this duo together, Evans was leaving Echard brokenhearted in Iceland. Not to mention, before that, he unkindly asked her to leave, and Evans said that he made her feel like a “stray dog.” And lest we forget! This same night, Evans had to watch Echard devastate his two other exes, Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia, in Iceland and hear them confront him in real-time.
With that kind of history, it only makes sense that taking their romance public could be a source of stress for Echard and Evans — and it’s palpable. Patti Wood, body language expert and author of SNAP: Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language, and Charisma, says, “They’re not good with each other under stress. They haven’t figured that out yet.” Here’s how she breaks down their “ATFR” interview.
During the couple’s sit-down with Jesse Palmer, Evans’ vocal cues and body language were all about regaining control. “She didn’t stop talking, she didn’t let [Echard] talk, she repeated herself — those are power language cues,” Wood says. “They indicate that she wanted to take power over the situation.” Considering Evans’ wasn’t been able to share her side of the story for the four months since filming ended, that determination to be heard makes total sense.
Evans’ body language sent a similar message. See how she sat down next to Echard? “You’ll notice that her body [her knees, pelvis, stomach, and face] is oriented toward [Palmer]. She felt challenged and had to defend herself, so she looked to who she felt was her criticizer or opponent.”
Wood also points out Evans’ posture. “Her shoulder was hunched forward and down to prepare for the battle.” Fortunately, Palmer came out of their ~brawl~ unscathed.
Deserved or not, Echard did not have an easy night — and the toll of it was apparent in his body language. In this interview, he seemed to know Evans needed control, but ceding it wasn’t necessarily easy. After sitting down, Wood notes that he “moved forward in front of her, [it’s] sort of a grab for attention.”
Still, he didn’t interrupt Evans’ spiel. While Evans spoke to Palmer, Wood notes how Echard “tilted his head in submission to keep eye contact with her as much as possible.” But that doesn’t mean that he felt at ease.
Wood points out the way Echard reached for Evans’ leg — “the fingertips are on and the thumb, but the hand is arched up, it’s almost fearful.” (Apparently, if it was a more comfortable stance, Echard’s palm would have been down and soft around her leg.) Though his hand eventually relaxed, Wood says that “the first touch is critical” in body language analysis.
Dating and Relationship Tips From Body Language Expert Patti Wood
Answers to questions from Medium Magazine about Dating.
1. What do you think about
dating apps?
They work well if you are levelheaded. Do your
research on the person you chose to interact with and head warning signs/red
flags that someone is deceitful or dangerous.
2. What tips would you give to
someone who has to go on a first date? I am not sure why you say, "..has
to go on a first date." You shouldn't feel forced to go on a first date.
The essential tips would be to pick a safe place, let friends know where you
are and who you are meeting, plan on the way to exit if you need to gracefully.
If you don't feel happy and excited about the prospect of dating the person
rethink the date. Have topics you like to talk about and that they may enjoy
discussing. And number one, be interested and curious about your date. Expect
to have a good time! You are discovering a new human being, and that is
glorious.
3. Choose one of the following
questions:
o
What
are some great conversation starters for a first date? Why?
What's the best thing that has happened in
your life in the last week? In the last year?
What's the most unique positive thing about
you? Examples: One set of twins, lived in another country, have skied in the Swiss
Alps, you volunteer at Foodbank, you have lobbied with your Representatives for
World Peace. You have been in the parade at Comic-Con. You are asking for a positive
story. This question leads to great conversations and insights.
Who is a person in
your life that is your True North, the most hones credible person you know? What
kind of behavior do they demonstrate? What do they say?
4. What are some original date ideas?
Do something fun, playful exciting. For
example, Go on the Farris Wheel, Blacklight
bowling, Karaoke, an international farmers market, find a fruit or other food
you haven't eaten, eat or cook it, go to a bookstore or library, and give each
other a quest to find something in a book. You will get your adrenaline up and
see how the other person enjoys the excitement and good adventure.
5. How long should someone
wait before entering a more serious relationship with someone? That depends so
much on you. Do you feel comfortable and safe and your best self in their
presence? Do they make you feel the world and other people in it are overall
good? Do they like your friends and family. Do they speak well of people with whom
they have close relationships? Do you feel good when you have spent 24 hours
with them? Is your life even better because they are in it?
6. In your opinion, what are
some personality traits men find irresistible in women? Pretty, Laughs at their
jokes/humor, Exciting.
7. In your opinion, what are
some personality traits men ( do you mean women? find irresistible in men? Funny,
Tall, Handsome, good job/income.
8. How can people find you? Patti@Pattiwood.net Bodylanguagelady@blogspot.com
9. Do you have a book/online
course/app you would like our readers to know about? Snap Making the Most
of First Impressions Body Language and Charisma